Gordon Hayward, a versatile forward who was selected ninth overall by the Utah Jazz in the 2010 NBA draft, announced his retirement from the NBA on social media on Thursday. “Today, I am officially retiring from the game of basketball,” Hayward wrote. “It’s been an incredible ride and I’m so grateful to everyone who helped me achieve more than I ever imagined.” Hayward signed as a free agent with the Boston Celtics that summer after suffering a horrific leg injury in his first game as a Boston player, an injury that ended his season and required another one for him to fully recover.
Hayward praised his parents and family, his agent Mark Bartelstein, coaches, teammates, trainers, physicians, and friends, saying “there are too many people” to thank for supporting him “through countless years and cities, helping me exceed my own expectations.”
“To all my fans: thank you for supporting me through the ups and downs,” he tweeted. “I’ll always treasure the supportive letters and the times we’ve spent together all around the world. You’ve motivated me to constantly aim high and get better every day, and I’m throwing down the gauntlet to the next generation of players: do the same!
“I look forward to new challenges and adventures as I relocate to be with my family more as a husband and father, bringing the lessons I’ve learnt on the
